We know the statistics surrounding domestic violence and young people. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline’s Loveisresepect project, nearly 1.5 million high school students experience physical violence from a dating partner within a single year. Violence can begin as early as 12 years old with young women experiencing the highest rate of intimate partner violence between the ages of 16 and 24.
But what about young boys? We don’t hear much about those cases. But they do happen. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 13.4 percent of male high school students report being physically or sexually abused by a dating partner. According to the National Institute of Justice, about 36 percent of boys from the Midwest say they experienced physical violence in a teen dating relationship. Sixty-six percent of boys experience at least one instance of verbal abuse in a dating relationship while in high school. And nearly one and seven boys reported being victims of sexual coercion in a teen dating relationship.
And these teen boys are suffering just as much as teen girls. A recent post on the blogging website Tumblr showed the abuse that boys take from teen girls. The user made a list of abusive things that teenage girls do, from something as simple as “calling him stupid or making fun of him for making a mistake” to “Forcing him to have sex despite the fact that he said he didn’t want to.”
It’s a fact that domestic violence can begin at an early age. In fact, the earlier the age, the more like the abuser’s severity will increase the older the person gets. It’s important for both men and women to recognize the signs of domestic violence.
It’s also important to note that there are legal options available for anyone who is in an abusive relationship. If you are a victim of domestic violence, we are here to help. Contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone now for more information.